MCN Weighs In/Polley's Waltz/Clooney Time/"The Master" News

Waiting...But not for much longer.

MOVIE CITY NEWS WEIGHS IN

TTSS Cast

As we approach Telluride (and Venice, Toronto and New York) the peeps that do Oscar predicting as a serious business are, not surprisingly, starting to get serious.  Last week saw the first predictions from Incontention.com's Guy Lodge.  Now add to that the first speculative piece from David Poland at Movie City News (home of The "Gurus of Gold").  As you might expect, a number of films that I have in the discussion about what we might see in four weeks are included in Poland's initial stab at divining what might happen in the awards season.

You can find the article here.  It includes a link to Poland's first comprehensive chart as well:
http://moviecitynews.com/2011/08/29-weeks-to-oscar-pre-toronto/

Telluride possibles included in Poland's piece are:
360
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Descendants
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The Ides of March
A Dangerous Method
The Artist
Coriolanus
W.E.
The Lady
Shame
Albert Nobbs
The Rum Diary

POLLEY'S WALTZ

Sarah Polley"s follow up to "Away from Her" has landed a spot in Toronto and also has had some Telluride speculation as well.  The film stars Seth Rogen and the uber busy Michelle Williams as a young married couple facing challenges.The Playlist at Indie Wire has the first three clips form the film and are very positive about their look.

Here's the link to that post and the clips:
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/watch_3_clips_from_sarah_polleys_take_the_waltz_with_michelle_williams_seth/


CLOONEY TIME

I'm about as certain as someone can be without actually being one of the Telluride programmers that Alexander Payne's "The Descendants" with George Clooney starring will be at this year's festival.  Every sign points to that happening.  I actually got a DM from a film blogging colleague earlier this week that he had received an email from the Fox Searchlight people that made him believe that even more.

So it won't be a surprise to me.  The other Clooney vehicle this fall film fest season is the one that Clooney has directed, "The Ides of March."  I am much less sanguine about its chances of being in the San Juans on Labor Day.  It's already tipped to open the Venice fest and is scheduled for a "gala" presentation at Toronto.  But at the same time I'm not completely ruling it out for T-ride. 

I can see a scenario in which Clooney arrives in Telluride after the Venice opening to support "The Descendants" and brings a copy of his film along with him.  Probable?  No.  Possible: Yes.

Again, remember that "Black Swan" opened Venice last year and was a Toronto gala as well and still managed to set Telluride on fire.

At any rate, it may be the best chance for Telluride Clooney fans to see him as the next couple of projects that he has lined up don't sound particularly Telluride-friendly.  Take a look at what Mr. Clooney has in store in this article from The Hollywood Reporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-clooney-whats-coming-up-219874

THE MASTER RUMOR

I've already been sort of semi-psychotically obsessing about Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix.  The film focuses on the aftermath of WWII and a man's (Hoffman) development of his own "belief system".  It's wildly believed to be a fictional accounting of the development of Scientology.

Anderson has been reportedly filming in California and Hawaii.  Now comes word from The PT Anderson fan site Cigarettes and Red Vines that principle photography may be close to complete.

The tweet to that effect is here:
Cigarettes&RedVines (@cigsandredvines)


8/5/11 7:58 PM

"We received a tip from a source close to production that principal photography is wrapping up soon on "The Master." #dobirdsbark"
 
You can find the Cigarettes and Red Vines website here:
http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com/


Have a great weekend, everyone...The wait stops Monday one way or another...